The journey of Pope Leo XIV to Africa is particularly significant. From 13 to 23 April, Leo XIV is visiting Algeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Angola. From the outset, the Pope described his journey as that of a messenger of peace.
Pope Leo XIV’s teaching is that of peace, beginning with his very first address from the Loggia of Blessings on 8 May 2025, following his election as Successor of Peter: “Peace be with you all! Dear brothers and sisters, these are the first words spoken by the risen Christ, the Good Shepherd who laid down his life for God’s flock. I would like this greeting of peace to resound in your hearts, in your families, among all people, wherever they may be, in every nation and throughout the world. Peace be with you!”
Standing before the Memorial to the Martyrs of Algeria, Leo XIV reiterated that, “the future belongs to men and women of peace” and that peace “is not merely an absence of conflict, but one that is an expression of justice and dignity”. This peace, added Leo XIV, is possible “only through forgiveness”, because the “true struggle for liberation will be definitively won only when peace in our hearts has finally been achieved”.
Speaking to the Algerian diplomatic corps, Leo XIV described himself as a pilgrim of peace and stated that the future belongs to “those who do not allow themselves to be blinded by power or wealth, and those who refuse to sacrifice the dignity of their fellow citizens for the sake of personal or collective gain”.
The Pope also directly addressed the Algerian people. “If you are able to engage in dialogue regarding the concerns of all and show solidarity with the sufferings of so many countries near and far, – he remarked – then you will be able to contribute to both envisioning and bringing about greater justice among peoples. By respecting the dignity of everyone and allowing yourselves to be moved by the pain of others, instead of multiplying misunderstandings and conflicts, you can surely become protagonists of a new chapter in history. Today, this is more urgent than ever in the face of continuous violations of international law and neocolonial tendencies”.
These are appeals from the Pope which are particularly relevant to the European bishops, who are now being called to a deep reflection in order to understand how to better promote a civilisation of love, within the commitment of evangelisation to which we are all called.
The Council of European Bishops’ Conferences is following the Pope’s visit with great interest, being already rich in its experience of dialogue with the African continent, which has now spanned several years. Once again, this year on 23 May, the CCEE and SECAM (Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar) will meet in Luxembourg for a three-day Seminar. The Bishops’ Conferences of Algeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Angola, which are stops on the Pope’s tour of Africa, all comprise part of SECAM.
Since 2004, the CCEE and SECAM have been exchanging information on a regular basis in order to address shared challenges and explore opportunities for evangelisation, following an initiative by Cardinal Robert Sarah, who at the time was Archbishop and Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples.
Leo XIV’s journey, with the themes it is confronting, addresses today’s challenges and raises both old and new questions that demand answers. The European bishops, moved by pastoral concern, stand in communion with the Pope who has stated that he does not speak as a politician, but rather according to the logic of the Gospel.
The commitment to peace, to overcoming global imbalances, to a fairer and, therefore, more reconciled society – one that lives in peace because it has learned to forgive – is central to the Christian identity.
Every papal journey is, therefore, an opportunity for deep reflection. It enables the building of bridges and the further understanding of how our being Catholic impacts lives and the society.
Photo: @Vatican Media